Training

All new employees must attend the course "Introduction to EH&S at LBNL" within the first month after starting work at LBNL. All participating visitors working at LBNL for more than one month must also attend.

If you are a student or visitor, your LBNL supervisor must ensure that you are adequately trained to protect yourself against the hazards you may encounter in the course of your work at LBNL. If you are an employee of a subcontractor to LBNL, your employer must fulfill these obligations, and in general, must fulfill the supervisor’s responsibilities described in this booklet.

If you will be handling hazardous or radioactive materials (such as radioisotopes) directly, you will need additional training.

Consult the Health and Safety Manual (PUB-3000) and your supervisor for more information on other training requirements. You may also contact EH&S Training at ext. 2228 for more information.

Protective Equipment

You must use protective equipment to guard against special hazards in many locations and for certain job assignments. The Lab provides the following equipment to employees free, or at a reduced price.

Safety Glasses

All LBNL personnel are eligible for free safety glasses. Nonprescription and prescription glasses are available at Health Services, Building 26. Call ext. 7378 for an appointment.

Safety Shoes

The Laboratory will furnish safety shoes to employees whose jobs require foot protection. Other employees may purchase safety shoes and boots at reduced prices; the purchase may be deducted from your paycheck. Ask your supervisor for more details. Safety shoes are available from a Shoemobile at the Lab once a month; you can find the schedule in the "Calendar" section of Currents, the Lab’s weekly newspaper.

Hearing Protection

If you are an employee, long-term visitor, or guest, and you are exposed to noise above harmful levels (85 decibels for an eight-hour day), you may be required to participate in the Lab’s Hearing Conservation Program. This includes the use of ear protectors, medical monitoring, and training. EH&S Industrial Hygienists provide noise monitoring and evaluations. Health Services provides a video training program, audiometric testing, and a demonstration on how to properly insert earplugs. Ear plugs and ear muffs are available from Stores, Building 78, ext. 5087.

Respiratory Protection

Always use lab hoods or other local exhaust systems to minimize your inhalation exposure to toxic volatile liquids, powders, and fumes. In some cases, you must use a respirator to protect yourself from exposure to harmful dust or organic vapors. An EH&S Industrial Hygienist conducts monitoring, helps determine when respirators are necessary, and provides respirators, fit testing, and required training. Call ext. 4028 for more information.

Gloves

When working with chemicals, be sure to use the correct type of gloves. The glove’s material should be matched to the chemical being used to ensure that you are getting the proper protection. Gloves are available from Stores. Information on different types of gloves is available in the Chemical Hygiene and Safety Plan and from your EH&S Division Liaison. A list of Division Liaisons is available on the Web at http://www.lbl.gov/ehs/html/div._liaisons.htm.

Other Safety Equipment

Standard safety equipment, such as hard hats, face shields, and ground fault interrupters, is available from Stores. Some jobs may require specialized protective equipment, such as a safety harness. If you need specialized equipment, contact EH&S for assistance.